Another elderly driver mishap here in Mass..this time they took down a pedestrian

[Disney1fan2002]

An 84yo women crashed her car into a 7-11...hitting a pedestrian on the sidewalk...crashing through the wall of the store, and the car stopped on top of the woman. I was expecting the news reporter to say the woman died. She is in FAIR condition at a local hospital (not even med-flighted into Boston).

Is that amazing??? I mean, utterly AMAZING??? You are hit by a car, crash through a building, the car stops on top of you, crushing you, and you are in FAIR condition. Not dead. Not even critical. WOW.

 

[KaterBell]

This was in Weymouth, right?

Another good reason to have driving tests after the age of 70.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

This was in Weymouth, right?

Another good reason to have driving tests after the age of 70.

You know what is scary...is at the age of 38, I am noticing a change in how I react to things while I am driving. If the change is starting now, I know in 40 some years, I will not be a good driver.

I don't know why they don't require re-testing after a certian age. It is a simple concept, no? What are the opponents saying? Infringing on rights? I don't get it.

 

[2Xited4Disney]

It kills me to here about people being hit by cars


I don't know if you guys or anyone else from Mass remembers last thanksgiving when a boy from Hanover, attending UNH was hit and killed by a drunk driver. He was my best friend, It honestly is a horrible way to die. Like one minute you are living your life without a care in the world then you are dead.

I hope the person in this case is ok.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

It kills me to here about people being hit by cars


I don't know if you guys or anyone else from Mass remembers last thanksgiving when a boy from Hanover, attending UNH was hit and killed by a drunk driver. He was my best friend, It honestly is a horrible way to die. Like one minute you are living your life without a care in the world then you are dead.

I hope the person in this case is ok.

Hey NEIGHBOR! I live on the Hanover line...

 

[AMcaptured]

It would take a very courageous politician to submit a law that would require the elderly to prove they were still capable of driving after a certain age. The elderly are the BIGGEST voting block and unfortunately most of our elected officials only care about getting reelected and could care less about public safety. In other words, the elderly are allowed to be a danger to the general public because they would all vote the person responsible for changing a law out of office.

We don't allow kids to drive until a certain age and they must prove they are capable, I honestly don't believe there is much of a difference between teenagers and senior citizens except 17 yo's don't vote. No one in power has enough courage to propose changes in the current laws.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

It would take a very courageous politician to submit a law that would require the elderly to prove they were still capable of driving after a certain age. The elderly are the BIGGEST voting block and unfortunately most of our elected officials only care about getting reelected and could care less about public safety. In other words, the elderly are allowed to be a danger to the general public because they would all vote the person responsible for changing a law out of office.

We don't allow kids to drive until a certain age and they must prove they are capable, I honestly don't believe there is much of a difference between teenagers and senior citizens except 17 yo's don't vote. No one in power has enough courage to propose changes in the current laws.

We have to vote on it? Why can't they just make it law? They just toughened the drunk driving law...I don't remember voting on it.

Maybe I need a course on bills/law

School House Rock anyone?

It would be a state to state thing, since each state sets their own laws on driving ages. In MA, they raised the drinking at to 21, then lowered it to 18, then raised it to 21 again. I don't think anyone voted. What am I missing that makes this more complicated than it seems?

 

[laurie31]

We have to vote on it? Why can't they just make it law? They just toughened the drunk driving law...I don't remember voting on it.

Maybe I need a course on bills/law

School House Rock anyone?

It would be a state to state thing, since each state sets their own laws on driving ages. In MA, they raised the drinking at to 21, then lowered it to 18, then raised it to 21 again. I don't think anyone voted. What am I missing that makes this more complicated than it seems?

We wouldn't vote on the law itself, but on those who made it. The point AMcaptured was trying to make was that politicians often don't make laws for the common good, they make laws (or DON'T make them) so they can be reelected. The AARP crowd would not be likely to vote for someone who took away their freedom.

To clarify, I'm all in favor of driving tests, maybe for everyone, but it's not a politically popular idea. Driving is a privilege and not a right, but many view it the opposite way, especially since if you can't drive you are essentially under house arrest, unless you happen to live in a place with decent public transportation.

Laurie

 

[Chicago526]

In Illinois, persons over 75 must renew their DL's in person and take both a vision and a driving test. This is done every 4 years. So it can be done!